Presidency reacts to Obasanjo’s remarks, accuses him of misinformation

By Kunle Sanni

The Presidency has sharply criticized recent comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at Yale University, dismissing them as “hallucinations” and accusing him of spreading misinformation and hypocrisy.

In a statement released on Monday by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, the Presidency rejected Obasanjo’s critique of the current administration, alleging that his own tenure was plagued by corruption, democratic failures, and mismanaged projects.

“Former President Obasanjo is well-known for his capacity for mischief, and Nigerians are not deceived by his antics. His tendency to muddle facts and engage in political theatrics is not new. He presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in Nigeria’s history,” the statement read.

Dare was reacting to Obasanjo’s pre-recorded speech, titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,” which was played at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, USA. In the address, Obasanjo criticized the current administration and called for the replacement of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Presidency, however, described Obasanjo’s remarks as insincere and lacking credibility.

Highlighting unresolved controversies from Obasanjo’s time in office, the statement pointed to the alleged mismanagement of $16 billion allocated for electricity projects. “His pretentiousness about fighting corruption rings hollow. To date, he has failed to explain how $16 billion was squandered on electricity projects that left the nation in darkness,” Dare said.

The statement also revisited Obasanjo’s failed bid to amend the constitution to secure a third term in office, accusing him of undermining Nigeria’s democracy. “Democracy suffered greatly under his watch, culminating in his ill-fated attempt to impose a third term,” the statement said.

Quoting a Yoruba proverb, “A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo” (We do not pay attention to the noise in the market; we focus on the trader we are dealing with), the Presidency urged Nigerians to ignore what it described as Obasanjo’s “market noise” and instead focus on the progress being made under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

“The man with the Renewed Hope Agenda is the one who matters. Everything else is just noise,” the statement emphasized.